However, while commercial developers such as Ballymore, Miller Developments and Rok Developments were reportedly also set to axe smaller numbers of jobs, a spokesperson for the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (Ucatt) said the commercial sector was still relatively safe.

“There has been a severe downturn in house building, but while there’s been belt-tightening on the other side of the industry, and it’s not as healthy as it was 12 months ago, we don’t expect to see it get as bad,” the Ucatt spokesperson told Personnel Today.

“With the Olympics and building schools for the future, there is a healthy order book of government contracts keeping over 2,500 jobs in London.”